CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Last time I added anything to my blog I was moaning about feeling depressed, and generally fed up. Then as if some divine all seeing all knowing entity had taking pity on me by intervening to give me back some purpose in my life, I got worse..much worse

Problems with Achilles tendons and knees as well as other ligaments and muscle groups that we tend to use for the purpose of standing and walking, all combined to mean that I have spent the majority of the last two weeks taking high doses of pain relief as well as anti inflammatories.

“Serves ye right ya big moainin bugger” I hear you cry, and yes it does.

Two things of note though came out of this time of enforced stillness. The first is something that I have noticed before but never given much thought too. At times when I am physically unwell, or preoccupied with some physical problem I am not depressed!

Why this is I do not know, it may be that whilst a physical problem is in progress I have something real to focus on, a goal or target to achieve i.e. getting back some mobility as well as problem solving how to achieve simple things like getting out of bed. It might also be that I am actually worrying less or perhaps being less stressed by things that matter a lot less than my mind likes to make them out to be.

The Second thing that happened is that we, yep the royal we as in Claire and I have been called for an interview with a housing association in relation to a particular development that is just about to come on stream.

Our house is not particularly wheelchair friendly, in fact it downright unfriendly. It’s lay out has narrow corridors and tight turns with doorways that are awkwardly placed for manoeuvring a wheelchair. It also has a totally useless space that has the nerve to be called a kitchen but as those that have seen it will readily agree it is more akin to a walk in pantry with a cooker in. This space is too small for my wheelchair to turn in as well as having no more room for one person in at a time.

The house in ramped but as I am unable (increasingly so) to propel my wheelchair up and down the road to shops, or the pub, or even to the nearest bus stop, it means that whilst I am severely restricted physically I depend on Claire for everything inside and outside the house. This is unfair on us both but mainly on her, being chief cook, dog walker, cleaner, gofor, for both of us is bad enough. Adding to that the roles of driver, personal assistant, main bread winner, all add layers of complexity to her life and a source of frustration as well as dependency on to mine.

So a barrier free house will help both of us, my main gain will be the ability to look after more of the personal chores that Claire ends up doing for me. Also the proposed development is close too shops and pubs with the added bonus that it is more or less a flat run to get to them and back again. For Claire some of the benefits should include not having to be my main transport provider irrespective of my physical state, this will mainly be achieved by the purchase out of the funds of from selling this house, of a electric wheelchair, or what will be quickly dubbed the “Prof Pat Pending bus buster.” Those of you who are cartoon buffs or are of a certain age will have pleasure filled memories of Lady Penelope, The Anthill Mob, and the irrepressible Dick Dastardly and Muttly as well as the rest of the wacky racers including Prof Pat Pending. His machine was fitted with all sorts of gadgets and things that allowed it to overcome most obstacles. My machine will be specially bought for it’s rugged good off road performance, and if I have anything to say about it, it will also have a rocket pack, underwater capabilities, built in coffee maker, as well as ejector seat and a device for keeping me sitting up right after consuming several pints.

As you will imagine this invitation to a interview was eagerly accepted and did a lot to help raise our spirits. I will keep you appraised of our progress.